The name on the side of this barn is a giveaway that Christine Schreiner is talking about her son, Lance Cpl. Andrew Schreiner. When he deployed for Afghanistan, Christine wanted Andrew to know how much he was loved and missed.

“Go big or go home. It’s what I’ve always said. If you are going to do something, go all the way,” Christine said.

So with the help of family, she did.

About a month ago, they used a projector and worked until 2:30 a.m. to outline two very clear messages, including one directly to Andrew, which said, “We love you, Andrew.”

The other read, “God Bless Our Troops. The Few. The Proud. The Marines.”

The next day, in 95 degree heat, they painted them in. What they didn’t expect was the response they would get. From those passing by with a honk and a salute, to random people stopping by to write their own message.

Now, more than 50 well-wishes cover the barn.

There’s even one from Andrew’s niece, Juno.

“It really almost brings a tear to my eye,” said Andrew’s dad, Russell Stanger. “I’m so happy that people are supporting the troops and my son so much.”

Andrew’s girlfriend, Sara Van Heel, feels the same way.

To her, these are so much more than words on the side of a barn.

“Every signature is a shoulder to cry on. If needed, you know, it’s there,” she said.

Andrew’s family isn’t sure when he’ll return home.

So they are inviting anyone to stop by and sign the wall — even if they aren’t home.

The family gets a lot of honks and they even had a motorcyclist drive by one day and salute them for an entire mile.

Like this:

John Lauritsen is an Emmy award-winning reporter from Montevideo, Minn. He joined WCCO-TV in late-July of 2007. Two days after he started, the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed. Before his television career, John grew up on a farm near Milan, Minnesota...